ANMF (Vic Branch) recommends Cabrini members vote YES for the right to take protected industrial action

19 January 2026

On 16 January the Fair Work Commission granted ANMF’s application for a protected industrial action ballot order. ANMF made the application on 14 January.

Voting YES to take protected industrial action sends a strong message to your employer to improve its offer as part of the ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations, in particular to put pressure on Cabrini to provide improved wages and conditions. It sends a strong message to your employer that you will not be taken for granted and that your important concerns must be addressed.

It is important to remember that you will not be voting to take industrial action; you will be voting for your legal right to take protected industrial action at a future time.

This important ballot of members will commence at 9am on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and close at 5pm on Wednesday 4 February 2026.

Update your details reminder

To be eligible to vote in a protected industrial action ballot, ANMF members’ details must be up to date and match with their details on the employer-provided list.

It is critical members check their surname, first name, middle name, date of birth, work and private email, mobile and postal address are correct.

Members whose workplace and contact details don’t match won’t be eligible to vote, which may limit everyone’s ability to participate in the protected industrial action ballot.

Please ensure your details are correct by no later than 9pm this Tuesday 20 January 2026.

To update your details, visit the member portal.

Ballot details

The ANMF member ballot will be conducted by the Fair Work Commission approved independent ballot agent VERO Voting.

Read our VOTE Yes flier, including FAQs and list of proposed actions at anmfvic.asn.au/PIAcabrini .

Members will be asked one question to authorise the 28 items of protected industrial action.

A successful YES vote will send a strong message to Cabrini’s management. It is important every member votes.

A successful ballot requires:

Fifty percent or more of eligible members on the ballot roll must vote; and
A majority of those members who vote, must vote YES.

If you do not receive a ballot link from Vero Voting, contact ANMF via records@anmfvic.asn.au attention ANMF Industrial Professional Assistant Frances Sutherland.

What does ‘protected’ mean when taking industrial action?

It means you can alter the way you do your work or refuse to do certain work without any fear of disciplinary action or dismissal – provided the action is authorised by the protected industrial action ballot and the appropriate notice has been given.

Will taking protected industrial action put patient safety at risk?

Public sector, Bolton Clarke (community nurses and private residential aged care), and St Vincent’s Private Hospitals are just some of the members who have taken legal protected industrial action recently to achieve improved wages and working conditions.

ANMF members’ protected industrial action does not put patient health, safety or welfare at risk.

Our action is designed to disrupt and inconvenience employers and seek for Cabrini to listen to their nurses’ and midwives’ concerns.

Will I lose pay?

You could as it is unlawful for an employer to pay an employee for protected industrial action. However, this rarely happens for initial bans such as wearing campaign t-shirts. Pay docking can happen for example if we close beds or stop elective surgery and will occur for where there is a complete stop work. Cabrini can only dock for the actual time taken in protected industrial action or (for partial bans) using a complicated formula and by giving notice to you of any proposed reduction in pay.

Can the ANMF help if I experience financial hardship as a result of pay docking?

Yes. The ANMF operates a member Hardship Fund for those involved in protected industrial action. Importantly, this is not an income replacement fund. It may provide some support to members who face significant hardship as a result of the protected industrial action where eligible.